If you were you and you're friends were in the Air Force during World War Two, how would you feel about it? Yossarian's first feelings towards flying in the Air Force were almost enjoyment of his missions as a dedicated bombardier and not minding the danger; until a fellow soldier is killed and he feels he is to blame for it. After Snowden was killed, Yossarian's views changed. He became fearful of flying his missions and all he wanted was to go home safely. He didn't have the same plans as Colonel Cathcart though. Colonel Cathcart was a squadron leader who's goal in life was to become a general. Because of this goal, he would do anything to succeed. He figured that if he made himself look good in front of the other generals, he would be promoted. In order to impress the generals, he figured it would look very impressive to them if he kept increasing the number of missions his pilots had to complete in order to go home. The final number of missions the pilots had to complete were eighty missions. Yossarian didn't like this idea so he figured he would just refuse to complete the missions and went to talk to Doc Daneeka in hopes that the doctor would ground him from missions and send him home. There was a catch though. Catch-22. This states that if you were crazy, the doctor would ground you but you would have to ask to be grounded. In order to ask to be grounded, that would mean you had a rational mind making you not crazy. Which then causes you to fly the missions. Catch-22 was what kept Yossarian in the war.
Why is this book Outstanding?
There are plenty of reason why this book is outstanding. Even though this book is very long and takes a little while to read, there's plenty of things to keep you interested in it. One thing that really stood out to me was how many themes there are to this book! You're main one is Sane. Who is and who isn't? Throughout the book, Yossarian trys persuading people into believing that everybody is trying to kill him (which they really are) and people end up calling him crazy. In the book, a friend of Yosarrian, Clevinger, and him were discussing the matter of people trying to kill Yosarrian. Clevinger answers Yosarrian, "No one's trying to kill you, they're shooting at everybody, " (pg. 16). Another theme this book has is greed. The two main people that show this is Colonel Cathcart and Milo the mess officer. Colonel Catchart was greedy in only thinking of himself, and not of his squadron, by upping the number of missions the pilotes must complete, which raises the chance of the men being killed, just to become a general. Milo Minderbinder showed greed when he would do anything for money. He tried selling egyptian cotton, eggs, and more. When I said he would do anything to get money, I meant it. He went as far as bombing his own squadron for it. There are plenty more themes that this book shows but there's more reason why this book is outstanding. My second reason why it's outstanding is because of the main character's views and how they change throughout the book. In the beginning, he doesn't think much of going on missions and the danger he's put in, but after Snowden is killed he thinks twice and changes drastically. Not only do you see his views on things changing, but it feels like your along for the ride. The author does a wonderful job of describing every bit of what Yossarian is going through; but not only Yosarrian, he gives us an in depth look at each of the characters. That's my third reason for why this book is outstanding. There isn't just one problem/ interes, there's many! You have Yossarian and his fear of going on missions, you have Colonel Cathcart and his greed, you have Milo and his greed, you have the chaplain who's very shy but has a fight within himself about trying to become stronger and say what he feels to the generals, and many more. There are plenty of other reasons why this book is outstanding, but those are the main ones.
Would I recommend this book?
If you're not affraid to read a long book, I would definately recommend this book. When I first started reading this book, I was confused at first because it felt like things weren't flowing together like I was used to, but once I sat and thought more about what I was reading and when I really paid attention to what the author was telling me, I started understanding it. If the person who's asking me about the book doesn't mind reading a longer book and enjoys books where you have to pay attention to every detail and think, this would be an awesome book for them and I would recommend the book to them.
Cited Work
Heller, Joseph. Catch-22. Simon & Shuster Paperbacks, 1955.
Raul645. Sanned Image onto answers.com, 2004.
~Page Created By: Sam Seliga
~Last Edited: Nov. 11. 2007
Catch-22
By: Joseph Heller
452 pgs.If you were you and you're friends were in the Air Force during World War Two, how would you feel about it? Yossarian's first feelings towards flying in the Air Force were almost enjoyment of his missions as a dedicated bombardier and not minding the danger; until a fellow soldier is killed and he feels he is to blame for it. After Snowden was killed, Yossarian's views changed. He became fearful of flying his missions and all he wanted was to go home safely. He didn't have the same plans as Colonel Cathcart though. Colonel Cathcart was a squadron leader who's goal in life was to become a general. Because of this goal, he would do anything to succeed. He figured that if he made himself look good in front of the other generals, he would be promoted. In order to impress the generals, he figured it would look very impressive to them if he kept increasing the number of missions his pilots had to complete in order to go home. The final number of missions the pilots had to complete were eighty missions. Yossarian didn't like this idea so he figured he would just refuse to complete the missions and went to talk to Doc Daneeka in hopes that the doctor would ground him from missions and send him home. There was a catch though. Catch-22. This states that if you were crazy, the doctor would ground you but you would have to ask to be grounded. In order to ask to be grounded, that would mean you had a rational mind making you not crazy. Which then causes you to fly the missions. Catch-22 was what kept Yossarian in the war.
Why is this book Outstanding?
There are plenty of reason why this book is outstanding. Even though this book is very long and takes a little while to read, there's plenty of things to keep you interested in it. One thing that really stood out to me was how many themes there are to this book! You're main one is Sane. Who is and who isn't? Throughout the book, Yossarian trys persuading people into believing that everybody is trying to kill him (which they really are) and people end up calling him crazy. In the book, a friend of Yosarrian, Clevinger, and him were discussing the matter of people trying to kill Yosarrian. Clevinger answers Yosarrian, "No one's trying to kill you, they're shooting at everybody, " (pg. 16). Another theme this book has is greed. The two main people that show this is Colonel Cathcart and Milo the mess officer. Colonel Catchart was greedy in only thinking of himself, and not of his squadron, by upping the number of missions the pilotes must complete, which raises the chance of the men being killed, just to become a general. Milo Minderbinder showed greed when he would do anything for money. He tried selling egyptian cotton, eggs, and more. When I said he would do anything to get money, I meant it. He went as far as bombing his own squadron for it. There are plenty more themes that this book shows but there's more reason why this book is outstanding. My second reason why it's outstanding is because of the main character's views and how they change throughout the book. In the beginning, he doesn't think much of going on missions and the danger he's put in, but after Snowden is killed he thinks twice and changes drastically. Not only do you see his views on things changing, but it feels like your along for the ride. The author does a wonderful job of describing every bit of what Yossarian is going through; but not only Yosarrian, he gives us an in depth look at each of the characters. That's my third reason for why this book is outstanding. There isn't just one problem/ interes, there's many! You have Yossarian and his fear of going on missions, you have Colonel Cathcart and his greed, you have Milo and his greed, you have the chaplain who's very shy but has a fight within himself about trying to become stronger and say what he feels to the generals, and many more. There are plenty of other reasons why this book is outstanding, but those are the main ones.
Would I recommend this book?
If you're not affraid to read a long book, I would definately recommend this book. When I first started reading this book, I was confused at first because it felt like things weren't flowing together like I was used to, but once I sat and thought more about what I was reading and when I really paid attention to what the author was telling me, I started understanding it. If the person who's asking me about the book doesn't mind reading a longer book and enjoys books where you have to pay attention to every detail and think, this would be an awesome book for them and I would recommend the book to them.
Cited Work
~Page Created By: Sam Seliga
~Last Edited: Nov. 11. 2007